Sharad Pawar, the NCP chief, acknowledged that his party engaged in discussions with the BJP after the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections. He claimed it was a strategic move to expose the BJP’s power-hungry nature and their readiness to form alliances for political control in the state.
Sharad Pawar said during a press conference, “I have heard that Devendra Fadnavis told some newspaper that we took some meeting about it, but you all know the meeting took place in 2014 where I had admitted publically that we would support BJP from outside to form government cause we had our own reasons then it was not like we were appreciating them (BJP),” Sharad Pawar said.
“There were subsequent meetings with the BJP after the 2019 assembly elections. While the BJP leaders claimed that I changed my mind just days before the swearing-in ceremony of Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, the government did not last long. It was a calculated move by me to demonstrate that the BJP would go to any lengths to hold onto power, while the NCP does not chase after power,” he adds.
On being asked whether or not any meetings took place before that oath ceremony, Pawar said, “A lot of meetings happened during that time, but they were to bring his (Fadnavis’s) anxiety out in front of all.”
Sharad Pawar also taunted Fadnavis by saying, “One of my old relatives was a good bowler and used to bowl good googly. Many got clean bold by his googly. I was president of ICC once, I may not know how to play cricket but I know how to bowl googly and take the wicket. Will he (Fadnavis) accept that he got out?”
In reply to this, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also took a jibe at the NCP Chief.
“I am happy that at least I could bring out the truth from Sharad Pawar. I had bowled a googly after which he spoke this. But this is a half-truth, I will make sure he speaks the entire truth,” said Devendra Fadnavis.
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Updated: 30 Jun 2023, 07:32 AM IST